Five Killed in Mayabeque by Lightning

Every year between 16 and 17 million storms occur worldwide. (Cubadebate)

14ymedio bigger14ymedio, Havana, 16 August 2019 — Five people in Cuba died on Thursday after being hit by lightning at La Puntilla beach in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque, as reported by the official press.

The deceased are two adults and three minors who have not been identified and whose ages are not yet known, although the local press said they will report the details later.

A minor was treated for the same event at the Alberto Fernández Polyclinic in the town, and transferred to the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, in the capital, after being stabilized.

The authorities of the Party, the Government and the Administration of Santa Cruz del Norte went to the scene.

As the press has explained, Cuba is one of the countries most affected by lightning in the world, with a high concentration of strikes in the north of Pinar del Río, the interior of Havana, Artemisa and Mayabeque, and in the west of Matanzas, especially during the rainy period from May to October.

Each year lightning strikes an average of 65 people in Cuba, this being the first cause of death caused by weather phenomena on the Island, which between 1979 and 2013 have left 1,682 dead.

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